Harness-pad



(No'Model.) f

H. B. PIA-TT.

` HARNESS PAD. No. 426,318. Patented Apr. 22, 1890,

rn: mams paens co., Puma-urna., wAsHmu'mn, oA c4 UNITED STATES HARRY B. PIATT, OF

PATENT Orrcn,

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

HARNESS-PAD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 426,318, dated April 22, 1890.

Application filed July 19, 1889.

To aZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY B. PIATT, of the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Ventilator-Pads for Horse-Collars, Back-Bands, dac., of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

This invent-ion relates to ventilator-pads constructed with two or more folds of wire screens, that act as a cooling intervention between the harness and the hide of the animal, that is liable otherwise to be scalded and galled in consequence of the connement of the hot sweat where the harness comes in contact with the skin; and the invention consists in features of novelty, 4hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the cla-im.

Figure I is a perspective View of one of my ventilator back-band pads, and shows the coarse screen or top and the tine screen bcneath, with the straps that secure it -to the back-band. Fig. II is a cross-section, and shows the manner of construction of the pads with the tine screen summounted by the coarse screen and both folds beading around the strengthening border-wire. Fig. III is a perspective view of the neck-pad that fits beneath the apex of the collar, and Fig. IV is a perspective view of the collar-pad.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the back-band pad, that straddles the back of the horse, and on which the back-band rides and under which back-band it forms a ventilator.

2 represents the neck-pad, that straddles the neck of the horse and on which the apex of the collar or of the collar-pad rides and under which it forms a ventilator, and 3 represents the collar-pad, which tits to the shoulder of the horse, and on which the collar rides and under which collar it forms a ventilator..

fi represents the coarse upper fold of wire screen, and 5 is the fine under fold of wire screen. The edges of both folds of screen form laps 6 around the peripheral wire 7, that surrounds and strengthens the pad, and make a stiff bead 8 around the same.

9 represents a metal strap, that is riveted or otherwise secured to the apex of the back- Serial No. 318,017. (No model.)

band pad in frontand whose upturned horn l0 has a central perforation ll, through which passes the horn or hook of the back-band,- which holds the bearing-rein, and the apex of said pad is thus held in position respectively to the apex of the back-band, while its pendent flaps are also held to those of said back-band by the straps l2, which are preferably ot' leather and are secured respectively on each side to said flaps of the pad by rivets 13. The said straps embrace the flaps of the back-band or back-strap, and their holds are secured thereto by the buckles 14.

It is well-known by tealnsters, veterinary surgeons, and others conversant with the use and care of horses that galls on their shoulders, necks, and backs almost invariably arise from the abrasion of the skin by the harness at times and that said skin is made peculiarly susceptible' to injury from the scalding of the hot sweat that is confined by the same parts of the harness whose friction causes the abrasion.

By the use of my ventilator-pads the sweat as it issues from the pores has full vent to evaporate and pass away, as in accordance with the provisions of nature, the outlet from `the pores always being on the outside of the body and in free intercourse with the atmosphere. It is only when said outlet of the pores are covered and the hot sweat there held which scalds the skin that trouble arises from the artificial stoppage of the pores or at the outlet of the Wonderful system of ventila-l tion that natures provides for the body of the horse.

Now it will be seen that by the use of two or more layers of wire screens in the construction of the pad, which screens are not of a soft packable texture as are fabrics or leather, the system of ventilation is preserved intact.

I have shown in Fig. IV the collar-pad open at top, it being preferable that it should open at the upper end when it is used, as I prefer to use it, in conjunction with the neck-pad shown in Fig. III, when the horses are subjected to work on heavy drafts; but I do not confine myself to the construction of said collar-pads with open tops and closed bottoms, for in light-draft work said collar-pads made of heavier wire and with a coarser mesh, so as in conjunction with the peripheral wire to provide sufficient strength and stiffness to the construction.

The cross-section shown in Fig. II shows a transverse View of one of the pads previous to its being bent into its curvilinear form in accordance with that of the part of the body of the horse on which it is to be lseated and of the harness that is seated on it.

I have shown two ply or folds of screens, but do notconfine myself to that number of folds, as three or more folds may preferably be used when padding heavy-draft harness.

I have shown and described and in most cases prefer to construct my ventilating-pads separate from the collars, back-bands, or other parts of the harness to which they form ventilated cushions between said harness and the horse that wears it; but I do not confine myself to said separate construction, for where it is desired to economize the screen-pads may be directly and permanently secured to the contact or friction surface of the harness itself, and in such cases the peripheral stiffen ing-wires 7 are dispensed with, as the harness itself then provides the requisite stiffening functions.

The wire screens and the peripheral wires 7 are preferably galvanized orI tinned, or by any other suitable process are provided with a preservative coat to secure them from rust ing'. l

I claim as my invention- In a .harness-pad for horses, &c., the combination of the line-wire screen 5 and the coarse-wire screen 4, that surmounts the fine screen, arranged together as a Ventilating medium between the animal and its harness, and the wire and border-lap beading,` around the periphery of the pad that strengthens the same, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

HARRY B. PIAT'l.

In presence of- 'lHoMAs KNIGHT, EDW. KNIGHT. 

